Cuomo Concedes Democratic Primary as Progressive Mamdani Surges Ahead

On June 24, 2025, former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo conceded the Democratic mayoral primary to 33-year‑old Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, marking a major political shift in New York City.

What We Know:

• Mamdani secured approximately 43.5% of first‑choice votes, while Cuomo captured 36.4%, with Mamdani’s lead remaining steady as ranked‑choice counting continues.
• Cuomo publicly called Mamdani to concede, saying: “Tonight was not our night… it was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night,” after over 90% of ballots were tallied.
• Due to NYC’s ranked‑choice system, official results won’t be certified until July 1, as lower‑ranked votes continue to be redistributed.
• Mamdani, backed by grassroots donors (over 21,000 small contributions), champions progressive policies including higher taxes for the wealthy to fund free buses, childcare, and city‑run grocery stores.
• Cuomo’s campaign, heavily financed by major donors like Michael Bloomberg and Bill Ackman with more than $20 million spent, was outpaced by Mamdani’s youthful momentum.
• Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted (then had charges dropped), is running as an independent in November’s general election.

This unexpected primary upset signals a rising progressive force in NYC politics, and sets the stage for a potentially unpredictable general election in November.